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New Life Daily Devotion - Dec. 24, 2009

1 Corinthians 10:12-13Entertaining belief in an addiction's magical cure often hinders recovery. One of the most common such beliefs is that someday we will finally be beyond the reach of temptation. Unfortunately, temptation is a permanent part of our world and of human experience. The Bible says, "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Not only is temptation all around us, it's within us as well. "Temptation comes from our own desires" (James 1:14). Even if we could rid ourselves of all external temptations, we'd still have to live with the destructive desires within our secret selves.

Even Jesus Christ himself faced temptation; and yet, he never sinned. Before he was tempted, he spent an extended period of time alone in the wilderness, and during that time he went without food. We are usually tempted the most during the times when we're lonely and hungry.

Facing temptation is a part of accepting reality. We need to accept that we will always be susceptible to temptation in our areas of weakness and predisposition. It is unrealistic to believe that our sinful nature will ever get better. When we put away the magical belief that temptation will disappear, we will be more aware and better able to avoid falling under temptation's power. We need to prayerfully seek God's help in dealing with this reality of life.

Temptations touch everyone; facing this fact is an important step in recovery.